Women's World Cup: Cameroon sneak through to round of 16 with late winner as Holland top group
The results mean Argentina and New Zealand are knocked out of the tournament
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Your support makes all the difference.Reigning European champions Holland secured top spot in Group E at the Women's World Cup, maintaining their 100 per cent record with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Canada in Reins.
Bayern Munich striker Lineth Beerensteyn grabbed the winner 15 minutes from time after Christine Sinclair had scored in her fifth successive World Cup to quickly cancel out Anouk Dekker's 54th-minute opener.
Both sides went into the game knowing they had qualified for the last 16 after winning their opening two games against Cameroon and New Zealand, with the match settling who would top the group and finish runner-up.
The game started in controversial fashion as inside two minutes referee Stephanie Frappart awarded Canada a penalty when Janine Beckie was fouled on the edge of the area by Desiree Van Lunteren.
But as Sinclair lined up to take the spot-kick, a VAR review that took almost three minutes to reach a conclusion, led to Frappart awarding a free-kick three yards outside the area that Sinclair tamely struck into the wall.
Despite the Dutch dominating, Canada had the ball in the back of the net in the 22nd minute, only for Jordyn Huitema to be adjudged offside after slotting home underneath the advancing Sari Van Veenendaal.
Elsewhere in the group, Cameroon qualified for the women's World Cup last 16 when Ajara Nchout earned them a 2-1 win over New Zealand with the last kick of their Group E match on Thursday.
Nchout, whose opener was cancelled out by Aurelle Awona's own goal 10 minutes from time, found the back of the net five minutes into stoppage time to put the African side on three points.
Cameroon go through as one of the four best third-placed teams while New Zealand were eliminated after three defeats.
The result means Argentina are also knocked out of the tournament.
Nchout opened the scoring 12 minutes into the second half, netting with a left-foot shot after dribbling past Abby Erceg.
All their efforts appeared to have counted for nothing when Awona deflected Katie Bowen's cross into her own net, the scoreline then meaning both teams were eliminated.
New Zealand pushed hard as Cameroon looked increasingly shaky, but Nchout kept her cool deep into stoppage-time, beating Erin Nayler with a right-foot effort from inside the area.
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